Surfers have been presented with an awkward dilemma recently with the news that the sunblock they use to protect their skin could be damaging the natural habitat they use as their playground: A study has found that some of the products we use to save ourselves from skin cancer and burns are having an adverse effect on the world's coral reefs. The delicate fauna, which requires sunlight to convert into food, has been damaged in some areas popular with surfers, so how are they to protect themselves responsibly?

Of all the annoying things to try and recycle, the Tetra Pak has to be one of the worst culprits. So I was pleased to find this useful new interactive map on my travels, which lets you know where the cartons can be left for recycling anywhere in the UK.

To find out if your area has a carton collection scheme, you simply click on it and the site will give you a yay or nay. If there is one nearby, it provides details on where to find it and the sort of facilities available; some councils offer a kerbside collection service, whilst others have static recycling banks.

Bindi Irwin, the nine-year-old daughter of the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin is an ambitious young lady. Already, her career has already seen her present a TV show, bring out her own fitness DVD and album, and now she's launching a super cute eco-friendly clothing line for kids.

Irwin showcased her collection, Bindi Wear International, with a catwalk show starring herself and a troupe of young models (including a real-life python) in Sydney yesterday. The clothes in the 130-piece collection aim to bring the eco fashion message to kids, and feature recycled materials, lots of fun animal prints and a funky 'Bindi' logo.

There's a long weekend coming up, so you'll have no more excuses not to do those chores: It's time to dust away the cobwebs and get to work on your house, flat, yurt or caravan for your big 2008 spring clean! To help you make this your greenest spring clean yet, we've rounded up some of the best eco-friendly cleaning products and asked consumers what they thought of them.

Follow the jump for our roundup of green cleaning products...

Cute and girly, this pretty bra and briefs set is a steal at just £10.50, reduced from £27.50.

That's a fantastic deal for underwear made from certified organic cotton, so if you're looking for lingerie that's soft and kind to your skin with a hint of sexiness, this might be one to add to your drawer. And while you're at it, why not take advantage of these great offers on feminine, floral print pyjamas?

£10.50 at Natural Collection

Greenpeace has published a study of the green credentials of various consumer electronics companies. While Apple has had a controversial public relationship with the eco-warriors, only recently being praised for some environmentally-friendly moves, today it can rejoice. Arch-rival Microsoft has found itself near the bottom of the pile.

Greenpeace's Iza Kurszewska put this down to a lack of recycling and disposal information from Microsoft to US consumers, the Xbox games console and the Zune media player. Neither does it publish its own recycling figures. But who topped the list and who shuffled shamefully at the bottom?

While M&S and other UK chains are ditching plastic carrier bags left right and centre, it's interesting to compare the situation in the states. And, it seems, just as many major retailers are doing the green thing, the latest being fashion department store Nordstrom.

The chain is hopping aboard the eco-train and introducing environmentally friendly packaging, including this reusable brushed linen tote featuring a cityscape illustration by artist Ruben Toledo.

It folds and zips up into a small, rectangular case meaning it's easy to carry around with you in your handbag, and is available from Nordstrom stores for $21.95. [via The Bag Lady]

London Mayoral candidates Sian Berry (Green) and the incumbent Ken Livingston (Labour) have teamed up to oppose Boris Johnson because of his shaky environmental credentials. The Conservative candidate supported George W Bush in refusing to be part of the Kyoto Treaty and has said that he would scrap the CO2 charge on gas guzzlers if elected Mayor. Doesn't sound too good for someone hoping to lead a city that prides itself on its residents' valiant attempts to live greener lives. And to add insult to injury, Sian and Ken have entered into a pact asking voters to put one as their 'second choice' over Boris.

Simply Soaps make products that are the stuff of hippy dreams. The hemp soap (pictured) is one of a range of natural soaps that are not only completely vegan and free of chemical nasties; they also come beautifully wrapped in bio-degradable packaging.

If that souds like something you'd like to rub all over your body, the good news is you can do it at a bargain price, as Simply Soaps is offering you a 10% discount on the entire soap range including the Fair Trade Black Palm soft soap. Follow the jump for details!

In Ghana, plastic bags are a menace, littering streets, trees and beaches. This messy situation has led one local entrepreneur to take advantage of what he sees as an abundant resource and found Trashy Bags, a company that stitches up the bags and turns them into funky and functional new ones that can be used for school, shopping and more.

The Earth Collection is a rare thing: a chain of shops selling exclusively eco-friendly and fairly traded products in locations spread all over the UK.

In each branch, you'll find ethically sourced, environmentally friendly and affordable clothing and accessories for men, women, babies and children, all made specially for the chain under really rigorous ecologically sound principles. There are currently 30 stores around the country. So why haven't you heard of them yet?

I won't get into the ins and outs of whether or not the chunky shoes are a fashion faux-pas, but the Crocs phenomenon now looks likely to be as much a feature of spring as crocuses. A lot of plastic goes into making Crocs, so what is the most eco-friendly way to dispose of them? Well, there is in fact a dedicated Crocs recycling scheme in place, so the horrific prospect of mountains of the things piling up all over the countryside is thankfully the thing of nightmares. Read on to find out more!

The Victorians used these glass cloche bell jars to grow their veg, and now you can rediscover this lost art for yourself with these beautiful new jars from Hen & Hammock made out of 100% recycled sand.

The jars work like mini greenhouses, which is ideal for anyone with limited space who fancies the idea of having their own organic vegetable patch in the garden. It's also a great (and totally humane!) way to ward off squirrels, whose constant rummaging can be a menace to young plants and flowers. £50 at Hen & Hammock

This fabulous smoke green 'junco' handbag is one of an exciting range by Ashley Watson; a Canadian designer who works exclusively in recyled and refashioned leather.

As well as stylish bags in all shapes and sizes, you'll also find super-smart filofaxes, wallets and belts in the collection, many of which were once jackets purchased in charity shops in a previous life. You can often make out the pockes, seams and fastenings in the new products, as Ashley strives to incorporate these into her designs. Whether or not you're a leather fan, I think this is a great form of recycling, resulting in some gorgeous pieces. And the old stuff is always softer and more attractive in my book!

Did you know you could get breakfast cereal specially tailored for your age group?

Alara has this market covered with its 'Lifestage' range, with cereals for your 'growing years', 'blooming years' and 'prime years'; each with exactly the sort of nutritional goodies you most need at those stages. All mueslis are organic, but there is also a fairtrade variety spiced with cinnamon and honey.

I hadn't heard of Alara, or indeed any of their interesting mueslis until now, but the company is clearly one to watch, since it scooped the Green Business of the Year prize in last week's Fast Growth Business Awards -- pretty good going, when it transpires that the company was started in a squat!